Wrapping machine



April 26, 1927.

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPI NG MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1922 1,5 Sheets-Sheet, l

April 1927' H, Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE 2. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

April 26, 1927. 1,626,378

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 1,626,378 April 1927- H. Y. ARM

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 26, 1927.

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 26, 1927. 1,626,378

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 April 26. 1927.

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec.

2. 1922 l5 SheetsSheet 7 April 26, 1927. 1,626,378

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 April 26, 1927. 1,626,378

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPI NG MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 H. Y. ARMSTRONG April 26 WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 April 26,1927.

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet ll Apnl 1927' H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE] Filed Ugo.

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15 Sheets-Sheet l2 QNN H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet l3 April 26,1927. 1,626,378

H. Y. ARMSTRONG WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 F LDER CAM CUTTING KNIFE 0AM LH SWEEP can END FOLDER CA m PASTE FINGER CAM R.H.swEEP 0AM I l 2/2 R 33 2 F2; 34

PACKAGE EJECTOR cAM TRANSPORT ca 600! SHIFTER (MM-2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY YARBIDIOTON ARMSTRONG; OI SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OI own-ms 'IO AMERICAN MACHINE AN D FOUNDRY COMPANY, A.

CORPORATION OF JERSEY.

'WBAPPIJTG mom.

Application fled ilk-.ceunier 8, 1922. Serial No. 604,582.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for wrapping and groupin flat, thin articles, thereafter wrappm an sealing a predetermined number 0 the previously wrapped articles in the form of groups in a manner to constitute a water and, air proof wrapper for the groups and thereafter, if desire, applying a label over the wrapped and sealed groups.

The invention relates first to a combination machine which embraces a plurality of wrapping mechanisms for individually wrapping the articles, thereafter grouping the wrapped articles and thereafter transferring the groups from the plurality of mechanisms and. delivering them successively to a single mechanism which applies a water and air proof wrapping to groups of articles and sealing the wrappers on the groups,-the operation being completed by wrapping a label about the sealed wrapped package if desired.

The combined wrapping, sealing and labeling mechanism may be aptly visualized by assuming two parallel wrapping chutes, with their proper wrapping mechanisms, a grouping mechanism at the rear end of each chute, a single group wrapping and sealing mechanism located symmetricall between and in extension of the individua wrappng mechanism, together with means to transport the groups of articles individually wrap ed to the single group wrapping and sea ing mechanism so disposed. The group wrapping mechanism is of suitable construction and is arranged to apply a wax wrapper to the groups as they are presented to the group wrapping mechanism and as they pass therethrough, and to finally apply the labels to the wrapped and sealed packages. In order that packages made up of the groups and their wrappers may be hermetical y sealed the wrapper material for the groups is preferably a parafline paper, and when using parafiine paper, heat-sealin means are employed to bear against and sea the wrappers along their longitudinal overlapping folds or seams and other folding and heating means are employed for folding and overlapping end fla s of the wrappers.

Among the o jects of the invention is to produce a novel wrapping and sealing mechanism whereby a single wrapping and sealng mechanism operateS n connection with a plurality of individual wrapping mechanisms to apply an air-proof wrapper and fold and seal it on the packa s, successively coming from the indivi ual wrapping mechanism.

An important utility of this construction and arrangement lies in the fact that the wrap ing and sealing mechanism of any machine of this character necessarily operates more slowly than the wrap ing mechanism for the individual articles, inasmuch as the" wrapping and sealing mechanism is brought Into action and operates throu h a cycle but once during the time require for individually wrapping a predetermined number of articles in a group. The single wrapping and sealing mechanism thus being served by a plurality of individual wrapping mechanisms ma be operated at comparatively slow spec and, by the same token, the individual wrapping mechanisms can be operated at a slower speed than if but a sin le individual wrapping mechanism serve a group wrapping and sealin mechanism. The result is that the mac ine can be made of high capacity for delivering complctely wrapped grou s without unduly increasing the speed of the folding, sealing, pasting and transferring elements of the machine and the gears to operate them.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for transporting a group of articles from the individual wrapping mechanisms to the entering side of the group wrapping and sealing mechanism in such a way that a. single sealing mechanism can be efliciently served by a plurality of individual wrapping mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to produce a mechanism, novel in its principle, for transporting groups of individually wrapped articles to the receiving side of the group wrapping and sealing mechanism without clashing of the elements constituting the transporting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to improve and simplify wrapping and sealing mechanisms for fo ding a parafline sealing paper about the grou s of articles and seallithe paper at the iflerent folds.

further object of the invention is to produce a group wrappin and sealing mechanism arranged to sea the wrappers on the edges of thin flat articles constituting the group, whereby a solid backing for the scaling mechanism is afforded, and whereby a transparent sealing wrapper can be applied to a 1package without marring an enclosed disp ay label.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism for transferring the groups after they have been enclosed in the water-proof wrapper to a mechanism for applying labels to the wrapped packages Additional objects of the invention are to further and otherwise im rove and simplify the constructions of machines of this general character, and the invention consists of the elements and combination of elements shown in the drawings and described in the specification, and is pointed out in the appended claims.

The machine shown in the drawing has been designed for wrapping sticks of chewing gum and will be described in reference to this utility, but it will be understood that certain elements of the machine shown may be employed for wrapping other articles. When employed for wrapping chewing gum, the individual wrapping mechanism operates first to apply a moistureproof paper to the naked gum and thereafter an individual label thereto, and these individually wrapped gums are grouped and transported to the group wrapping and sealing mechanism to enfold the groups in water and air-proof wrapper material, such a parafline paper, to produce a hermetically sealed package, which latter may thereafter be side wrapped with an advertising label.

As shown in the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrapping, sealing and labeling machine embodying my invention as viewed from the right hand of the machine in the position of a person standing at the individual wrapping mechanism.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the essential elements at the other side of the machine.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the essential elements of the machine.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figures 5 and 6 are plan views illustrating the transporting mechanisms for transporting the groups of gun from individual wrapping mechanisms to a single wrapping and sealing mechanism; the parts being shown in the two figures occupying different operative positions.

Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to Figures 5 and 6, illustrating the means for actuatin the sweep arms constituting a portion 0 the transport mechanism.

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the indirect line 9-9 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 taken on line 1010 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary enlarged detail illustrating the side fold and end flap heat sealing means in connection with the revolving turret which receives and carries the grou s delivered thereto by the transport mec anism past and from the folding and heat-sealing means.

Figure 12 is a view of the mechanism shown in Figure 11 as "iewed from the line 1212, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view of the mechanism for transferring the wrapped and sealed groups from the main wrapping turret to the auxiliary turret in which the wrapped groups are held while applying the outermost label.

Figure 14 is a detail section on the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the auxiliary label applying turret mechanism, including the paste pot for applying paste to one of the folds of the label.

Figure 15' is a detail of a portion of the mechanism for operating the fingers for ap plying paste to the group labels.

Figure 16 is a rear view of the label paste pot, with the rear wall removed.

Figure 17 is a partial plan view of the dischar chute through which the finally labe] groups of packages are discharged from the machine. t

Figure 18 is a detail section on the line 1818 of Figure 9.

, Figures 19 and 20 are detail sections on the line 19 19 and 20-20 of Figure 25.

Figures 21 to 25 inclusive, illustrate the essential elements of the mechanism for folding the end flaps of the sealing wrapper on the ends of the wrapped group of packages.

Figures 26 is a plan view of the grouping end of the individual grouping mechanism. Figure 27 is a rear end elevation thereof.

Figure 28 is a section on the line 2828 of Figure 26.

Figure 29 is a view similar to Figure 28, showing the parts in changed positions.

Figures 30 to 38 inclusive illustrate various cams for actuating the several elements hereinafter to be described.

Figure 39 is a view showing the several actuating cams and their shafts.

The sealing and labeling mechanisms herein shown may be employed in that type of wrapping and grouping mechanism shown in my prior United States Patent No. 1,400,202, issued on the 13th day of December, 1921, to which reference may be made. So far as the application of the present improvements thereto are concerned, to constitute a combined individual wrapping, grouping, sealing and labeling machine, it may be observed that 25 and 26 designate. respectively, the gum and individual label delivery chutes, which labels, together with the web paper from which the inner wrappers are cut and fed, constitute the wrappers for the individual sticks of gum. 'The wrapping mechanism includes a sliding carriage 27, and a vertically lift-able plural stop-bar 28 hinged at 29 and operated by a link 30 which is actuated at its lower end by a cam 31 that is fixed to a cross shaft 32, the whole operating in accordance with the like mechanism shown in my aforesaid patent for delivering individually wrapped and labeled gums to grouping stations S (Figures 3, 26, 27, 28 and 29), in the general manner illustrated in my aforesaid patent.

The frame of the machine designated as a whole by F in Figures 1, 2 and 3 will be of proper dimensions and form to support and provide hearings for the various elements of the machine.

35 designates the main driving shaft of the machine which, as herein shown, has a driving pulley 36 (Figures 3 and 4), but may obviously be driven by an electric motor. The frame which may be made of cast iron has a bed 40 preferably made of cast it will be noted that the individual wrapping and labeling mechanism, designated as a whole by WV, comprises twin elements to constitute parallel fore and aft paths or ways through which the sticks of gum are passed to apply the inner wrappers and individual labels thereto,-the mechanism being arranged to individually wrap and label sticks of gum, and group them at ouping stations, designated as a whole i y S in said Figures 3, 5, 6, 26, 27, 28 and 29. At said stations are rearwardly opening notches G. The grouping mechanism herein shown includes slotted discs g which are mounted on shafts g which are supported on a carriage designated as a whole by g and which. as shown in my aforesaid atent, reciprocates towards and from t e grouping and group discharge stations. The individually wrapped sticks are separately forced into the slots 9 of the discs 9 by the ejector element for the same purpose shown in my said prior U. S. Patent No. 1,400,202, to which reference is made, which said discs are intermittently turned to bring the sticks to the discharge position shown in Figure 28 in position to be engaged by the fingers g that are fixed on shafts g". Said fingers operate in the manner indicated in Figures 28 and 29 to intermittently build up groups of wrapped sticks of gum at the grouping stations between upper rollers g and lower spring upheld plates g. Thus as the individually labelied and wrapped gum sticks are'forced between said plates and rollers the plates are depressed until the required number of gum sticks (usually five) are grouped at the grouping station. In order to limit the backward movement of the individually wrapped and labelled um sticks at the grouping station, there 18 provided in rear of the grouping stations vertically swinging plates 9 that are hinged at g to the frame and normally lie slightly above the upper faces of said spring upheld plates 9 The said plate: 9 are normally maintained in their upper positions by a spring g which is connected to the plates at their hinges and is stretched between the plates. This construction enables the plates 9 to be depressed by the transport mechanism hereinafter described, to remove the groups from between the rollers g and plates 9 The groups of individually wrapped um are shown in Figures 5 and 6 in dotte lines as lying across the notches G.

42 desi ates as a whole a rotating turret which is ocated in the rear of and is disposed in a plane centrally between the individual wrapping mechanisms. Said turret has a wide clrcumferential face in which is formed a plurality of radial pockets 43 to receive groups 0 gum sticks transported thereto from the grouping stations. It may be here stated for the purpose of clarity in the following description that the said turret rotates in a plane which is midway between the planes of the individual wrapper and label mechanisms, and that transport mechanisms, hereinafter to be described, receive the groups severally from the ouping stations and bring them laterally inwardly and rearwardly so as to present the groups to the said pockets 43. The said groups are forced into the said ockets across a web of wax paper fed in rout of the pocket in such a way that when the wrappers are cut from the webs, the rear tops and bottoms of the wrappers are laid over the corresponding sides of the group with their free side edges trailing backwardly away from the exposed edges of the wrapped sticks and with their and edges extending laterally beyond the end faces of the turret; and that while said groups, with the waxed paper wrapped partially thereabout are in said pockets, they are caused to pass side and end folding and sealing mechanisms to hermetically seal the packages. Moreover, the said groups are forced into said turret pockets in such a way that the side folds of the wrappers are caused to lie over and be sealed against the edges of the individually wrapped sticks, which affords a good support or backing against which the sealing heater can act, and which also enables a transparent wax paper to besealcd on and over a package without marrmg a flat face of a wrapper that covers or encloses an inner individual label.

It may be further stated at this point that the hermetically sealed packages 1?, are successive] discharged from pockets of said turret into corresponding pockets of a smaller rotative turret 46 which is arranged n the rear and slightly above the main turret. The said hermeticall sealed packages are forced into said poc ets 45 directly from the ockets 43 of the main turret through mec anism hereinafter to be dedescribed, and against labels which are fed across the pocket, said labels being side wrapped about the hermetically sealed packages during the rotation of said smaller turret in a manner hereinafter to be described. From said smaller turret 46, the labeled hermetically sealed packages are discharged onto a discharge chute 48 hinged to the rear of the machine and comprising a trough-like member, as indicated in Figures 14, 15 and 17, with the bottom portion thereof lined by a screen or other suitable layer to induce drying of the paste that is applied to the outer label, and the removal of excess paste therefrom. An ironing roller 50 at the upper forward end of the discharge chute serves to iron the upper label face of the package and to press the overlapping pasted edges against the drying surface formed by the screen 49.

Assuming for the moment that the turret 42 is intermittently rotated so as to bring at the proper intervals wrapping pockets 43 in line with the transport mechanism to successively receive the unwrapped groups delivered thereto. The said transport mechanism and the mechanism which co-operates therewith is shown best in Figures 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings and is made as follows:

-60 designates as a whole rocking transport members that are fixed to shafts 61 (Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6), which are mounted in the upper ends of standards 62, all arranged between the grouping stations and the wrapping and sealing turret. The function of these transport members is to pick up the groups of gum delivered at the grouping stations, and to swing them forwardly into line with the pockets of said turret in position for the groups to be swept or charged with said pockets. This function may be performed in various ways. As herein shown, the rock shafts 61 that carry the support are disposed at oblique angles to each other and are so arranged that when the transport members are in position for their receiving ends to receive the groups, sa d ends are spaced widest apart, as shown in Figure 6, and when they are moved toward the wrapping mechanism. they and the groups of gum sticks which they carry are wung toward the central position of the turret, as shown in Figure 5. In the latter position swinging arms or sweeps 85, 85 remove the groups from the transport members and carry them into the pockets of the turret wheel. The said transport members are formed with pockets 65 (Figures 26, 28 and 29) which are bounded by u per and lower walls, and which are opene at their free ends and at their sides to receive the groups of gum sticks when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 6, 26 and 28, the carriage of the gum stick wrapping mechanism carrying the groups of gum toward the transport members. When the transport members are moved to receiving positions, the then forward projections of the walls constituting the pockets press down on the swinging stop lates g and rest in line with the notches mechanisms move rearwardly to force the grou s into the pockets of the transport mern ers. The walls of said transport pockets are springable in any suitable manner to hold the groups therein. Thereafter, and after the carriage and the grouping stations move forwardly away from the transport members, the latter are swung on their oblique axes from the positions shown in Figure 6 to those shown in Figure 5. The transport members are provided with end rests 66 to cooperate with the walls of the pockets to hold the grouped wrapped gum sticks in position while being transported. The mechanism for operating the transport members is made as follows:

The shafts 61 are formed between their hearings on the parts 62 with teeth forming pinions 67 which are engaged by vertical reciprocable rack bars 68 that are guided in ways on the member 62. The lower ends of the rack bars are connected by links 70 to the rear ends of rocking levers 71 which are fixed to a rock shaft 72 mounted in the machine frame (Figures 1 and 2). The said rocking levers are actuated from a cam 75 that turns with a shaft 76 mounted in the machine frame, through the medium of a guide and lifting yoke or fork 77 at one side of the machine, and pivoted to one of the rocking levers 71 (Figure 1) and having a roller stud 78 which engages a closed cam track 75' of the cam 75 (Figure 37). In this way a single cam disc can operate through a single rock shaft 72 and its arms 71 to reciprocate the two rock bars 68 and thereby serve to give simultaneous movement to the rocking or swinging transport members. The said cam disc and its shaft are rotated from the main drive shaft 36 through the medium of a gear 80 at one end of the shaft 76 and an intermediate gear 81 which is driven through gears 32". 32'" connected to the countershaft 32 before mentioned (Figure I).

Said rocking transport members co-operate with swinging arms or sweeps 85, 85' which are fixed to the upper ends of vertical rock shafts 86 that re m unt d in pp until the wrapping III] and lower bearings 87 (Figures 1 and 39). The said rock shafts are provided at their lo'wer ends with pinions 88 which are engaged by horizontally reciprocating rack bars90 (Figures 1,2,5 and 6) idedmthe frame and provided at their orward ends with cam forks 91 which straddle the 76'and are provided with rollmg bearing studs 91' to eng cam tracks 92, 92 of cams 93, 94 to reciprocate the rack bars 90 and to rock shafts 86 to swing the sweeps 85, 85' from the ositions shown in Figures 6and7tothat5owninFigures7and8. The said sweeps 85, 85' are formed at their rear or free ends with heads 95 which include laterally directed lugs 96 that terminate in upstanding fingers 97. l

The said sweeps 85, 85' move through predetermined curved paths which paths intersect in such a manner that while the transrt members are being swung from the liiiiding to the unloading position, the heads of the sweeps occupy their outmost positions (Figures 5 and 6), so that the transport members will be brought with the spaces between the su porting horns 66 and the intermediate poc eted portions thereof behind the normal positions of the fingers 97 of said sweeps or in the positions shown in Figure 5. The track of the transport actuating cam 75, or other equivalent actuating device, causes the transport members to dwell in the position shown in Figure 5 so the inward swinging movement of the sweeps 85, 85, effected by the earns 93, 94, will carry the groups of gum away from the transport members and toward and in line with pocket 43 of the turret wheel 42 as best shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In order that the groups of wrapped gum sticks may be orderly moved from the positions which they occupy in Figure 5 to an intermediate transporting position which they occupy in Figure 6, there are provided curved guides 99 and 100 fixed to suitable stationary parts 101 and 102 of the machine frame, not necewary to be herein further (lescribed. The said curved guides 99 and the guides 100 are formed on radii which are parallel to the part of the sweep heads 95 and are spaced apart at suflicient distances to enable the ends of the groups to slightly overlap and be supported on the guides, as best shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

Arranged centrally between the forwardmost guides 100 is a guide member 105 arranged in the same plane as the top one of a pair of guides 106 (Figures 5 to 9 inclusive) arranged opposite to and to direct the groups of um sticks directly into the pockets 43 0% the turret 42. The said guide finger 106, as well as the upper and lower guides 99 and 100, are vertically spaced a distance apart equal to the height of a group of wrapped gum sticks.

shown in Figure 37.

By reason of the fact that two groups of wrapped gum sticks are formed at the two 7 grouping stations at one time, it is necessary that the transport members be swun synchronously toward and receive sai groups while the wrapping carriage is at the rearmost point of its throw (Figure 6), and the mechanism herein shown is such that both said transport members are swung backwardly to the positions indicated in Figure 5, with the sweep terminals 97 back of the grou s. Such synchronous movement is eifected by the le transport cam 7 5' t is also necessary, in order to deliver the two partially transported groups to the turret 42 without clashmg in their movements that one of the sweeps 85, 85' deliver its group between the guide rs 106 into a pocket 43 of the turret and t en move forwardly out of the way of the head of the other sweep to permit the latter to deliver its charge between the guide fingers 106 to another pocket of the turret; it being understood that the turret is intermittently moved between transporting periods of the gum groups. This differential movement of the sweeps 85, 85 is shown as efi'ected by providing a dwell 93 in the cam track 92 of cam 93 which operates the left hand sweep 85 (see Figures 5 and 6 and 32 and 35). By comparison of Fi res 5, 6, 7 and 8, it will be noted that the right hand sweep 85 moves continuously from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 7 and that while it is moving from the position shown in Figure 6 to its innermost throw required to deposit the group of gum sticks into a turret pocket 43, and also while it is moving forwardly substantially to the position shown in Figure 6, the left hand sweep 85 remains stationary by reason of the dwell 93 in the cam 92 (Figure 32). Thereafter the left hand sweep is caused to more rearwardly to deposit its group of gum sticks into the next succeeding or presented turret pocket. It will also be observed that the sweeps 85, 85' are moving through their cycles of operation at a time when the transport members are being swun forwardlv to their receiving positions indicated in Figures 6 and 26 and then to their discharge positions indicated in Figure 5, and the relative arrangements of the tracks of the cams 93, 94 are such that said sweeps 85, 85' will be at the forwardmost limits of their movements when the transport members reach the positions shown in said Figure 5.

In order to afford a continuous support for the group of gum sticks while being transferred by the sweeps over the guides 99 and 100, and to bridge over the space which necessarily occurs at the converging or intersecting portions of the curved uides 99, there is provided a swinging ridge piece 110 which swings on an axis 111 

